Bears promote QB Matt Barkley from the practice squad

The Bears have promoted quarterback Matt Barkley to the active roster while signing fullback Paul Lasike — whom they placed on waivers on Tuesday — to the practice squad to replace him, the team announced on Thursday.

With Jay Cutler expected to miss two to three weeks with a sprained thumb, the Bears need an extra body at the quarterback position on game day. Although veteran Brian Hoyer is going to get the start in Cutler’s stead, it would have been interesting to see if the Bears were willing to see what the younger Barkley can do.

Barkley is a four-year veteran, having spent the first two seasons of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles before spending last season with the Arizona Cardinals. He has four career appearances with 30 completions on 50 passing attempts for 300 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions.

While it’s not unheard of for a player four years into his career to come out of nowhere and produce, it’s also not likely, either. Still, the Bears at some point need to start grooming a replacement for Cutler — a line that has been repeated for years now — and they’re running out of time to do so, as Cutler may not be on the roster in 2017.

The problem is that that player doesn’t appear to be on the roster right now or anywhere out on the open market.

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